privacy policy

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1. Who we are, what we do.

We are the fostering recruitment team that manage all fostering related enquiries for Foster Wales Merthyr Tydfil (Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council).

Our regional recruitment team manage all fostering enquiries received for Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council to the point that potential candidates are allocated for assessment.

Read more about the stages to become a foster carer

2. What and whose personal information we hold?

Whether you’re making enquiries or wanting to apply to become a foster carer we will process information on you, your partner – anyone in your household who will be involved in the process.

This can include;

Personal information – name, date of birth, address, contact details (telephone number/email address), employment, information about your family/relationships and previous partners.

Special category information – any health issues you may have, ethnicity, previous criminal convictions and any previous involvement with social services.

3. Where does the service get my information from?

From you, at the point of making your enquiry/application.

4. What will we do with your personal information?

We will use the information you provide to respond to your enquiry.

If you decide to continue with your fostering application we will carry out a home visit and gather more information from you to help us determine if you are suitable to become a foster carer.

We may monitor and record calls made to us, or calls that we make to you.

We may also process your personal data to fulfil our obligations and this can include the processing of your personal data for all or any of the following purposes:

  • To process a recommend a friend referral and reward the referrer
  • To send you email newsletters with your opt-in consent
  • To create an online foster carers profile to share with children/young people when you are approved as a foster carer

5. What is the legal basis for the use of this information?

Data Protection law says that we are allowed to use and share personal information only where we have a proper and lawful reason for doing so.

Our lawful basis for processing fostering enquiries and applications is to comply with;

Local Authority Fostering Services (Wales) Regulation 2018 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2018/1339/contents/made

Social Services & Well being (Wales) Act 2014 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/anaw/2014/4/contents

Childrens Act 1989

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/contents

Children Act 2004

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/31/contents

6. Does the service share my personal information with any other organisation?

Your personal information is not shared with any other organisation by the fostering recruitment team. Your information will be shared internally with the fostering assessment team to determine your suitability to become a foster carer.

If our initial visit is successful and you are invited to proceed to full assessment, you will be asked to complete an application form. At this point you will be asked by our fostering assessment team to give consent for your personal information to be shared with other organisations who are an essential part of your full assessment. Further details will be provided about these other organisations should you progress to full assessment.

7. How long will my information be kept?

We will keep your information for as long as we manage your enquiry.

If you are deemed suitable to go forward for assessment we will keep your information for the duration of your assessment. If you do not want to proceed to be allocated for assessment, we will retain your information in our database for 12 months from the date your enquiry is closed.

8. Your information, your rights.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) gives you important rights, including the right to access the personal information the services hold about you.

Further information on your information rights and how to exercise them. 

9. How and when we contact you

We will contact you after you have made an enquiry.

We will send you email newsletters, with your opt-in consent, when you subscribe to our Foster Wales news.

10. Contact us

We welcome your comments regarding this Statement of Privacy. If you believe that Foster Wales Merthyr Tydfil have not adhered to this Statement, please contact us:

By email at [email protected]

By telephone on 01443 425007

In writing at Civic Centre, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8AN